by Alec Hamilton

The Occupy Wall Street protesters may remain in Zuccotti Park for as long as they want. Police commissioner Ray Kelly said during a City Council hearing today that as long as the demonstrators conduct themselves in a peaceful and lawful manner, the park’s owners may not require them to leave.

Part of the land-use deal of the sale of Zuccotti Park includes a provision that requires the park to be open to the public at al hours. The privately-held park is owned by Brookfield Properties, a real estate company who built the park in order to gain a zoning bonus for a neighboring skyscraper.

Commissioner Kelly said the NYPD had already spent $2 million dollars on police overtime to patrol the demonstrations since they began about three weeks ago.